1. Kenny Vaccaro: Senior safety did not disappoint in his final season, including game against Kansas State, which he finished with 12 tackles. Does so much for defense you’d think there were two of him. Led Texas with 59 solo tackles and 99 total tackles, had two interceptions and forced three fumbles. Up next: The NFL.

Senior safety Kenny Vaccaro has been Texas' defensive leader and best player this season.

2. Alex Okafor: Ankle injury suffered against TCU kept him from playing against Kansas State, but didn’t dampen a solid senior season. Led Texas with 12 tackles for loss, eight sacks and 18 quarterback hurries, many of which came after fellow DE Jackson Jeffcoat was sidelined with injury.

3. Johnathan Gray: Didn’t have his best game against Kansas State but was Texas’ most productive running back this season. His 142 carries and 683 net yards were both the most on the team.

4. Mike Davis: Davis supplied Texas with the big-play receiver it thought it was getting out of Dallas Skyline in 2010. He led the Longhorns with receptions (54), yards (909) and touchdowns (7).

5. Quandre Diggs: Texas' best cornerback played like one of the Big 12’s best for most of the season. Led a lackluster Longhorns secondary with three interceptions (tied with Carrington Byndom) and seven pass breakups.

6. Steve Edmond: Did he struggle at times? Sure. But all in all he filled in nicely as the leader of Texas’ linebacking unit when Jordan Hicks went down with an injury in the third game of the season. Was second on the team with 97 tackles.

7. Jaxon Shipley: As reliable as reliable gets. Shipley simply doesn’t drop passes, and didn’t all season, which makes you wonder why he didn’t get the ball more. He finished second on the team in receptions (51), yards (649), and touchdowns (6).

8. David Ash: At times Ash looked like the clear favorite to start at quarterback in 2013. Now? Not so sure. He started all but one game (Kansas State) this season. But his two-interception performance against TCU could linger for a while.

9. Joe Bergeron: Hard to deny a place on this list for a guy who rushed for 16 touchdowns, regardless of how short some of them may have been. Texas’ short-yardage specialist rushed for 565 yards this season, and made most of his increased role due to Malcolm Brown’s injury.

10. Malcolm Brown: Has played in only seven games this season because of injury. But his performance against Kansas State (two touchdowns, tough running) reminded people why he was so highly recruited out of Cibolo (Texas) Steele.